Immigration Legal Services Intern (Spring 2027)

International Rescue Committee•Silver Spring, MD

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The International Rescue Committee’s Immigration Legal Services Department in Silver Spring, Maryland, provides high-quality, low-cost immigration services, including applications for adjustment of status, work authorization, naturalization, and family reunification. The intern supports the department by helping clients prepare for consultations and application sessions, providing administrative and document assistance, and contributing to outreach, research, and partnership-building. This is an unpaid internship for the Spring 2027 semester, requiring a minimum four-month commitment and 30 hours per week. Interns must be able to work in person at the Silver Spring office for at least 15 hours per week; overall in-person availability is preferred. Spring 2027 interns are expected to attend an in-person orientation on January 25, 2027, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eligible interns may receive a per diem reimbursement of $15 per day toward food and travel costs. Candidates who are not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and are more than 12 months from graduation may apply as volunteers.

Requirements

Be working toward a college degree related to international relief, humanitarian work, or refugee-law-related subjects, and be a current student or within 12 months of schooling.
Have a passion for working with refugees with limited English proficiency.
Have excellent research, language, database management, and record-keeping skills.
Commit to at least four months and 30 hours per week.
Be able to work in person at the Silver Spring office for at least 15 hours per week.

Nice To Haves

Second-language proficiency; Spanish is strongly preferred, and French, Dari, and Pashto are also sought.
Interest in or work experience with U.S. immigration law and outreach.
Prior immigration experience.
Overall ability to work in person.

Responsibilities

Review client immigration documents and help clients meet requirements for consultations and application sessions with legal staff.
Answer client questions about immigration services and refer them to appropriate IRC staff when necessary.
Provide general administrative support, including tracking, filing, and mailing documents, applications, and notices of action.
Assist with updating client information in the Lolly Law database under the guidance of the supervising Immigration Services Manager.
Assist clients with document translation, authentication, presentation, and completion.
Provide special assistance to clients with particular needs.
Promote the IRC’s immigration department through online and local networks.
Research immigration issues, policies, and programs.
Build partnerships with local agencies to improve systems for providing immigration services.